Recipe: Ree Drummond's Baked Ziti

One of the most popular figures on the Food Network is Ree Drummond, the bestselling cookbook author and the figure behind the top-rated cooking show, "The Pioneer Woman."

Don't miss Alina Cho's profile of Drummond on "CBS Sunday Morning" March 10 – and in the meantime, sample one of Drummond's delicious recipes below!

        
Baked Ziti
Level: Easy
Total: 1 hrs. 35 mins. (includes standing time)
Active: 30 mins.
Yield: 12 servings

Instructions:

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, diced
1 pound ground beef
1 pound Italian sausage
Two 14.5-ounce cans tomato sauce or marinara sauce
One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes with juice
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ziti
1 1/2 pounds mozzarella, grated
One 15-ounce tub whole-milk ricotta
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for sprinkling
2 eggs

Instructions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and sauté until starting to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and sausage and cook until browned. Drain off almost all of the fat, leaving a bit behind for flavor and moisture. Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and some salt and pepper. Stir, bring to a simmer and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of the cooked sauce to a bowl to cool down.

2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add some salt. Cook the ziti until not quite al dente.

3. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

4. In a bowl, mix 2 cups of the grated mozzarella, the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, eggs and some salt and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times (do not mix completely).

5. Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Pour it into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine (there should still be large lumps). Add the cooled reserved meat sauce and toss to combine.

6. Add half the coated pasta to a large casserole dish or lasagna dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half the remaining mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of the coated pasta and the remaining sauce and mozzarella.

7. Bake until bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before sprinkling with chopped parsley to serve.

       
Reprinted by permission of Ree Drummond and The Food Network.

For more recipes from "The Pioneer Woman," visit The Food Network website.

     
For more info:

• thepioneerwoman.com
• "The Pioneer Woman" on The Food Network